EUGENE — There were just two event finals Wednesday at the World Athletics Championships, but it was still an eventful evening at Hayward Field.
Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in a blazing time of 8 minutes, 53.02 seconds. Jeruto finished ahead of Ethiopia’s Werkuha Getachew and Mekides Abebe, who took the silver and bronze, respectively.
In the women’s discus final, China’s Bin Feng unleashed a big throw of 226 feet, 9 inches (69.12m) on her first attempt that held up for the gold medal. Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic earned the silver and the United States’ Valarie Allman, the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, settled for the bronze.
Veteran U.S. javelin thrower Kara Winger qualified for the final with a best throw of 201 feet, 1 inch (61.30m) in qualifying. Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi had the top mark of the day, 211-0 (64.32m).
In heats on the track, U.S. distance runners Elise Cranny, Karissa Schweizer and Emily Infeld all advanced to the women’s 5,000-meter final. Forced out of her best event, the 800 meters, South Africa’s Caster Semenya finished 13th in the 5,000 and did not advance.
Sydney McLaughlin led a contingent of four Americans into the women’s 400-meter hurdles final, which shapes up as a showdown between McLaughlin, the world record-holder, and U.S. rival Dalilah Muhammad, the former world record-holder.
The United States’ Michael Norman recorded the fastest time of the day in the men’s 400 semifinals, crossing in 44.30 seconds to win his heat. American Champion Allison also cruised through to the final by winning his heat in 44.71.
In the women’s 400 semifinals, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas led the way with a time of 49.55 seconds. The Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino also broke 50 seconds (49.98) on her way to advancing to the final. The United States’ Talitha Diggs and Lynna Irby did not qualify for the final.
It was a similar story for the U.S. men in the 800-meter heats. Reigning world champion Donavan Brazier, who has been battling injury, faded late in his heat and finished a non-qualifying sixth. Bryce Hoppel placed fifth in his heat and Brandon Miller was fifth in the heat after that. Neither advanced. Even when the U.S. appeared to get a runner through to the semifinals, it didn’t work out. Jonah Koech finished second in his heat in a fast time of 1:44.62, but then he was disqualified for impeding another runner while passing him.
LOOKING AHEAD
Some things to watch Thursday at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene:
Will U.S. dominate women’s 800? The U.S. is formidable in this event, with Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Athing Mu and bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers joining Ajeé Wilson as the Team USA entrants. Other top contenders in the women’s 800 are Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson and Kenya’s Mary Moraa. The heats get underway at 5:10 p.m. (TV on USA).
Fisher back for more: After just missing a medal with a fourth-place finish in the 10,000 meters, Grant Fisher of the Bowerman Track Club returns to the track for the 5,000-meter heats. BTC teammates Woody Kincaid, a former University of Portland star, and Mohammed Ahmed, who runs for Canada, also are in the field. The favorites are Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir and Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega. The heats begin at 6:10 p.m. (TV on USA).
Jamaica primed for another sweep? Can anyone prevent a repeat sweep by the Jamaican sprinters? Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah went 1-2-3 in the women’s 100 final on Sunday, and they could do it again Thursday night in the 200 final. Americans Abby Steiner and Tamara Clark and Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith might be the most likely candidates to break up a Jamaican sweep. The final begins at 7:35 p.m. (TV on USA).
Loaded men’s 200 final: It’s a loaded field, as six of the eight finalists have posted times faster than 19.90 seconds this season. The United States has a chance to sweep the medals, just as the Americans did in the 100. Reigning world champion Noah Lyles and teen sensation Erriyon Knighton are the favorites, but Kenneth Bednarek could contend as well. The race is set for 7:50 p.m. (TV on USA).
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
Afternoon session
(All times Pacific)
TV on USA Network, streaming on Peacock
5:05 p.m.: Men’s javelin, qualifying, group A
5:10 p.m.: Women’s 800 meters, heats
6:10 p.m.: Men’s 5,000 meters, heats
6:20 p.m.: Men’s triple jump, qualifying
6:35 p.m.: Men’s javelin, qualifying, group B
7:00 p.m.: Men’s 800 meters, semifinals
7:35 p.m.: Women’s 200 meters, final
7:50 p.m.: Men’s 200 meters, final
— Joel Odom; jodom@oregonian.com
